NEWS | The Name of the Wind to TV and Abercrombie's new trilogy

According to The Bookseller Job Abercombie has just sold a new loose trilogy to Harper Voyager in the UK with the first book slated for 2014 to be titled Half a King. The new books will not be related to the First Law world, but a more traditional yet alternative ancient Europe in the time of the Dark Ages. The books will also be aimed at both a younger demographic as well as Joe's traditional adult audience. For Abercrombie this probably just means cutting down on the cuss words and graphic sex. Abercrombie said:

“In some ways this is a very different sort of book from what I’ve written so far. It’s aimed partly at younger readers (maybe the 12-16 range). It’s much shorter – 80,000 words compared to 175,000 for my shortest, Red Country, and 230,000 for my longest, Last Argument of Kings (though still over twice the length of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, believe it or not). It’s set in a very different world with what you might call a viking or anglo-saxon feel. It’s much more focused, with a single point of view. It’s not so overtly ‘gritty’ although it’s a long way from smooth. It is punchy. It has drive. I aimed to deliver a slap in the face with every page.”

No word on the US rights, but those should come quickly. Abercombie has mentioned a July 2014 publication date as likely on both sides of the pond for Half a King with the sequels spread 6 month apart thereafter. The rub is the next First Law trilogy is still in the works, but we probably won't be seeing that until at least 2017, but there will be a short story collection of the First Law  in 2015 or 2016. It will be interesting to see how Abercrombie transitions his style to a younger set and if it can truly hold a candle for those of us who are use to Lord Grimdark.

The other big piece of news is according to Deadline.com  New Regency and Fox have have optioned  The Name of the Wind for a TV show.  Now don't hold your breathe too much on this as option often lapse, but Fox is in a period of growth splitting FX into two channels with the new FXX starting in the not too distant future though the credits of some involved don't impress me much. Still I'll be there in a heartbeat once it starts airing.

I'm honestly not sure which piece of news excites me more. More Joe Abercrombie fiction is always a good thing, but being able to see the characters that Rothfuss has brought so well to life on to the page being fully realized could be an amazing thing.

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Cover Unveiled for Dangerous Women edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardiner Dozois

Above is the cover for what to me is the most anticipated super-anthology of the year, Dangerous Women. I've already mentioned all the contributors, but seeing many of them listed there does give me goosebumps. Especially knowing how many of these will connect to the novel worlds of many of the writers. While I do like the general look, it looks a bit just too that--general, but then again so was Warrirors which this is a companion volume to. Maybe Tor was concerned with ending up with a chain mail bikini girl so they went safe. Still I would have thought this would have been a good opportunity to show a strong, dangerous woman on a Fantasy cover with out the awkward poses or unrealistic accouterments. Dangerous Women will be out in early December. Get your Christmas lists ready.

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NEWS | Dangerous Women edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois gets a release date

News broke about George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois' next big anthology quite sometime ago, but a release date hadn't been set until just now. Dangerous Women will be released December of 2013, which should be just in time for Christmas. And what's better than original stories by Joe Abercrombie, Lev Grossman, and Brandon Sanderson to close out the the year? Well, only if we got a new Martin A Song of Ice and Fire story, which we do. It will cover the Targaryen civil war which has been mentioned a lot in the novels and Dunk & Egg stories, but little detail has been revealed. But don't confuse this with the Dunk & Egg stories as it takes place well before Egg was born. Here's part of Martin's announcement from a few months back that goes into more detail on some of the stories:

The Abercrombie is set against his RED COUNTRY backdrop, the Holland gives us Eleanor of Aquitaine, Jim Butcher returns us to Harry Dresden’s world, Lev Grossman contributes a tale of life at Brakebills, Steve Stirling revisits his Emberverse, Diana Gabaldon’s story features Jamie Fraser of OUTLANDER fame, the Spector is a Wild Cards story featuring Hoodoo Mama and the Amazing Bubbles, and mine own contribution… well, it’s some of that fake history I have been writing lo these many months, the true (mostly) story of the origins of the Dance of the Dragons. The stand-alone stories, not part of any series, feature some amazing work as well. For those who like to lose themselves in long stories, the Brandon Sanderson story, the Diana Gabaldon story, the Caroline Spector story, and my “Princess and Queen” are novellas. Huge mothers.

Here’s the table of contents…

• “Some Desperado” by Joe Abercrombie
• “My Heart Is Either Broken” by Megan Abbott
• “Nora’s Song” by Cecelia Holland
• “The Hands That Are Not There” by Melinda Snodgrass
• “Bombshells” by Jim Butcher
• “Raisa Stepanova” by Carrie Vaughn
• “Wrestling Jesus” by Joe R. Lansdale
• “Neighbors” by Megan Lindholm
• “I Know How To Pick ‘em” by Lawrence Block
• “Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell” by Brandon Sanderson
• “A Queen In Exile” by Sharon Kay Penman
• “The Girl In The Mirror” by Lev Grossman
• “Second Arabesque, Very Slowly” by Nancy Kress
• “City Lazarus” by Diana Rowland
• “Virgins” by Diana Gabaldon
• “Hell Hath No Fury” by Sherilynn Kenyon
• “Pronouncing Doom” by S.M. Stirling
• “Name The Beast” by Sam Sykes
• “Caretakers” by Pat Cadigan
• “Lies My Mother Told Me” by Caroline Spector
• “The Princess And The Queen” by George R.R. Martin

December can't get here soon enough.

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UK Cover Unveiled for Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

Map by Dave Senior and Daggers by Didier Graffetaption

Joe Abercrombie's next book seems to be officially titled Red Country on both sides of the pond with the UK finally dropping the "A." The cover is very much in line with the style that has been established over the last few books and I can brook no complaints. Well done all around especially with the detail worked into the worn map. Is it October yet? Here is the wraparound and blurb for those who missed it earlier:

“They burned her home.

They stole her brother and sister.

But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she’ll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she’s not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb’s buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust…”

Also, here is the limited edition cover for Best Served Cold for those who haven't seen it.

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US Cover Unveiled for Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

Photo by Gene Mollica, Michael Frost, and Lauren Panepinto

Orbit just premiered the US cover for Red Country, which follows the style of the latest trade paper editions by them seen below. It definitely seems that Orbit is dropping the A from the title so I'm curious if Gollancz will as well. My earlier post reveals a fairly big spoiler for this volume, which is further shown in the cover above for the eagle eyed. Now that I've seen this I'm eager to see what Gollancz has up its sleeve as I've always considered those the definitive editions coverwise.

Here again the the official blurb:

Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell, her brother and sister stolen, and knows she’ll have to go back to her bad old ways if she’s ever to see them again. She sets off in pursuit with only her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out he’s hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.

Their journey will take them across the lawless plains, to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feuds, duels, and massacres, high into unmapped mountains to a reckoning with ancient enemies, and force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, a man no one should ever have to trust . . . .

Publication has been confirmed for November stateside and October in the UK. As much as I want to enjoy Spring and Summer, Fall can't get her quick enough.

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NEWS | More on Joe Abercrombie's A Red Country [UPDATED]

Joe Abercrombie recently gave an update about the status of A Red Country, his latest book placed in the world of the First Law trilogy, albeit placed years later but with some familiar characters cropping up. Abercrombie starts his post out:

Finished the first draft of A Red Country today. Well, kind of finished. Any of you who’ve been through this process with me before will remember that there is a lot of work to do between writing the final words and seeing the book on the shelves. Some of the most important work. But also some of the most satisfying. This is the part I really enjoy, cutting, refining, seeing the poor parts chopped away and the good parts refined and the whole hopefully coming into shape. This week I’ll look over and tidy up this last part before sending it off to my editor, and then it’s a quick read through to see what I’ve got, some additions and heavy rewriting of one of the two central characters.

He also helpfully includes word stats on the current work and previous novels, which makes A Red Country his shortest novel to date, but that could change slightly with revisions. It appears everything is on track with publication for this Fall with the UK getting A Red Country a little sooner:

Oh, US publication looks like November 20th this year, UK publication will be a little before that, precise date to be announced, but probably somewhere in September/October.

Given that Abercrombie is one of Gollancz's biggest authors at the moment what with hitting the British best-seller lists pretty high up they'll probably want to get it out as soon as possible. Us in the US have to wait until around Thanksgiving.  And here is the brief blurb, which does mention the reappearance of a fan favorite:

Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell, her brother and sister stolen, and knows she'll have to go back to bad old ways if she's ever to see them again. She sets off in pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.

Their journey will take them across the lawless plains, to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feuds, duels, and massacres, high into unmapped mountains to a reckoning with ancient enemies, and force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, a man no one should ever have to trust . . .

UPDATE: The big news and huge spoiler was uncovered by the ever fluffy Yetistomper found on Gollancz's catalog announcement for A Red Country:

His name is Logen Ninefingers. And he’s back for one more adventure...

Spoilers much?

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NEWS | Joe Abercrombie's Red Country

It was announced Joe Abercrombie signed a 4 book deal a ways back with the first book being a standalone and the following three a new trilogy all placed in the First Law World.  Joe has been calling the standalone his version of a Western, but other than that not much has been said.  Abercrombie has just put up a lengthy post describing it a bit more:

So I’ve finished the first draft of the second part of my latest masterwork, workingly titled, ‘A Red Country,’ or possibly just, ‘Red Country,’ we will see on that score. For those who have failed to follow this blog religiously for the past few months (shame on you faithless scum), it is another semi-standalone set in the world of The First Law, and fusing fantasy elements with western elements, in the same way that The Heroes was a fantasy/war story and Best Served Cold fantasy/thriller-ish. That puts me about 40% of the way through a first draft, though I suspect there’ll be a fair bit of work to do once the first draft is complete. Isn’t there always? Now the terrifying wait for feedback from my editor and readers while I try and sort out what exactly I’m going to do with my next part. I guess one could say that if Part I was a little bit Searchers then Part II rolled into Lonesome Dove territory and Part III has something of a Deadwood/Fistful of Dollars motif.

I feel a fair bit more comfortable with this second part than I did with the first, as you’d expect or at least hope. One generally aims to get a better and better handle on the plot, settings and characters as one goes through a draft, until by the time you’re finishing your first draft you know pretty much exactly what you’re aiming at, and editing becomes largely a case of bringing earlier parts into line with that final one.

I’ve made quite a significant change to the personality of one of my two central characters – or perhaps not a change but a clarification, a shift of emphasis and a refinement of style – and he seems to be working quite a bit better now. In essence, I’ve made him a bit more of a shit than he was before, which tends to be a fruitful direction for me to go in with characters on the whole. Who knew?

It’s taken me a little longer to get this part together than I’d hoped, what with one thing and another, but if I can up the pace a little from here on in we should still be looking at delivery early next year and publication somewhere around late summer early autumn 2012. Such is the hope. But you know what they say about hopes.

So hopefully this time next year we'll be treat to Red Country and more of Abercrombie's wonderfully depraved mind. In the comments Abercrombie also mentions some old characters will pop-up as well, but he's mum on who exactly. Personally I always felt there was more to do with Ferro, but a further comment about sex scenes makes me think it isn't her.

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MISHMASH | NPR Top List, Dread Empire Covers, & GoT Parody

Publisher's Marketplace is reporting the sale of A Game of Thrones parody novel.

George R.R. Costanza's A GAME OF GROANS, a parody of George R.R. Martin's bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire series, set in a world where seasons can last decades (and comparisons to Tolkien a lifetime), the warmth is returning, and in the thawing tundra to the North of Summerseve, the future of the Bark family, their BFFs, and their enemies dangles in the balance, to Thomas Dunne Books.

Clearly it was only a matter of time before this happened. Many on twitter wonder when the Porn Parody will happen. Probably sooner than we all expect. No release date is available for A Game of Groans, but I'd be surprised if you saw it any later than around the premiere of season two of Game of Thrones. I'm sure we're in store for lots of bad midget jokes.

^(;,;)^

NPR has released their survey of the Top 100 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels.  It is a very expected list as it is based off popularity over quality. No real surprises, but it does serve as a good beginners list. I've read about 45 from those listed (they combined series books so it is actually more) and many of those would make it into my own top 100 including Lord of the Rings perched at number 1. LofR wouldn't be my number 1, but it would probably make the top 30. The list also leaves out Urban Fantasy instead choosing to put those in their own survey for a later date, which is a little baffling.

^(;,;)^

A brief study claims that knowing spoilers about a book can improve the experience for them. I don't buy into it especially since only several dozen people were involved in the testing and they were all of college age. Also, I hate spoilers, so there.

^(;,;)^

Seen above are the new covers from Orbit for the trade paperback versions of Joe Abercrombie's last two novels, which again go a completely different way from all his other covers with the company. They are okay, but nothing to jump up and down about.  Now the next set of covers is something to jump up and down about.

Come on you know you want to click on each to embiggen them. Do it.

Night Shade has announced they are releasing the final three volumes of Glen Cook's Dread Empire series, which includes the never before released A Path to Coldness of Heart along with An Ill Fate Marshalling and Reap the East Wind. Now I'm not the biggest fan of Cook, but I am a huge Raymond Swanland fan who has does all of the covers for the series along with the omnibuses for The Black Company series.

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Joe Abercrombie Interviews George R.R. Martin

This is the piece that aired before the UK premiere of Game of Thrones on the Sky network with Joe "The Swagger" Abercrombie interviewing George R.R. "The Beard" Martin. While this doesn't add a lot to what George R.R. Martin has been saying lately it is great to see the modern master and the rising prince of gritty Fantasy talking to each other.

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Cover Unveiled for Before They Are Hanged (Ltd Ed)

Art by Alexander Preuss

Blarg! That's what I have to say about the cover to one of my favorite Fantasy novels of the last decade.

The above is for the Subterranean Press edition of Before They Are Hanged.  I first saw the art itself in mid-January when Sub Press released the piece not mentioning it would be for the cover. They often show a piece that ends up as one of the color plates so I tried not to think too much about it. Yet here is Before They Are Hanged, my favorite volume in the First Law Trilogy with a title treatment that doesn't even go along with their edition of The Blade Itself. That's a big fail in my book for collector series books.

Is it too much to ask for some consistency? I say this all not as just a blogger, but as a consumer. I've bought and paid for the Sub Press's version of The Blade Itself and pre-ordered Before They Are Hanged the first day it was possible to do so. I also order plenty of their other novellas and collections. I'm a very disappointed fan right now.

Come on Joe Abercrombie! Use that might ax you won for the Gemmell Awards to get this set right.

I also want to add that while I don't feel Alexander Preuss' art is right for this world (not nearly Dark or Fantasy enough) I do like his style and as Aidan has pointed out it would look quite lovely on my wall. I'm also, mostly, glad they stuck to the same artist for the same reasons I'm upset. Come on Sub Press! You can't even use the same damn font? These are pricey editions that collectors and hardcore fans want to look all snazzy on our shelves.


P.S. Sorry about all the art posts lately. I promise I have other stuff coming up including a review for Thursday.

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REVIEW | The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

"Unhappy the land that is in need of Heroes." -Bertoldt Brecht

About ten years after the events of The First Law Trilogy the Union and the North (lead by Black Dow) are battling for supremacy in the region and things have been bloody. But things are only going to get bloodier before it is finished if things like this can ever truly end. One battle over three days will decide the fate of thousands and leave just as many mired in the mud. There are no heroes. Only survivors.

The Heroes brings Abercrombie's biggest cast of characters to date flipping through dozens of view points. Just don't get attached to anyone in particular. This is war and it is a bloody one, but aren't they all? Abercrombie smartly included a persona glossary at the beginning of the book to keep all the players in perspective, but it is best to refer to it only as you need to since it can spoil the surprise of a few notable characters who pop-up.

"Corporal Tunny had long ago acquired a reputation as the fiercest sleeper in his majesty's army. He could sleep on anything, in any situation, and wake in an instant ready for action, or, better still, to avoid it."

The Heroes evokes the feeling of a military Fantasy perfectly as it travels across the battlefield from the view of those at the top to the lowly footmen stuck in the swamps. It reminded me quite a bit of Glen Cook's The Black Company, especially a certain Corporal Tunny. For those concerned, The Heroes is not all the doom, gloom, and causticness of Best Served Cold, which however entertaining you found it left most of us a bit cold. The Heroes livens things up and turns a battle that shouldn't mean anything in a place that doesn't mean much to anyone to an event that changes the face of the North featuring many of the side players from The First Law Trilogy.

Abercrombie really gets you down into the mud and blood of battles entrenching you next to all the warriors as they rise and mostly fall deeper and deeper into the mud with some perspectives lasting only a few paragraphs. The viewpoints flows easily from one scene to the next once you realize how often the view changes. The Heroes is filled with cravens, madmen, the corrupt, and those in to deep to wade themselves out of danger and a few people that aren't as deplorable and just want to live through the day. The story focuses on 3 main figures all of who have their own idiocracies in the style Abercrombie has become known for.

"Dignity ain't much use to the living, it's none to the dead."

One problem I had was the lack of a standout character or two as opposed to Abercrombie's other books. I've always found one or two characters I couldn't wait to get back to such as Logan and Glotka in The First Law or Friendly in Best Served Cold. I know, I know. I like them good and crazy. With the flipping of perspectives so much you get a surprisingly good sense of who most of the characters are that they hardly left me wanting for more. So this might be a case of overdoing expectations.

"Wondering what strange convergence of mischances could have allowed this madness to happen. And what other one might allow him to get out of it alive."

But the action, dark humor, and all the tension kept me captivated and pushing forward along with the fantastic battle sequences that are exquisitely executed. Shivers is even more of a scary fuck than he was in Best Served Cold and would probably appear more so to those who haven't read BSC. The Heroes shows that Abercrombie's considerable talents are being used quite well and while I still didn't fancy The Heroes as much as his Trilogy it is still sure to be one of the best Fantasy releases this year. In the end the story seems very small in comparison to the events of the First Law Trilogy, but it does lead to some tantalizing ideas concerning one of our favorite characters from the trilogy.

The Heroes ultimately makes you think about war and everyone's place in it and how hardly anyone wishes to take part for the right reasons. I give The Heroes 9 out of 10 hats. As if Abercrombie hadn't already cemented his place in Fantasy The Heroes proves he is a modern master. The Heroes can certainly be read as the standalone it is intended as, but you get a lot more out of the characters if you're read The First Law. I can't wait to see what Abercrombie has brewing for us next.

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NEWS | Joe Abercrombie Signs 4 Book Deal

Joe Abercrombie is going to be with us for quite a bit longer as is his First Law world. Joe just reported on his blog:

Therefore stand amazed as I announce that I last year signed a contract with my doughty UK publisher, Gollancz, for four more books set in the world of The First Law. That’s right. FOUR MORE BOOKS. Twice two.

The plan at the moment is for one more standalone ala the style of Best Served Cold and The Heroes followed by a new trilogy although this is subject to change. His next book after The Heroes probably won't come out until the middle of 2012 so we have a bit to wait. The most likely culprit for the next standalone that Abercrombie has been alluding to for the past year or so.

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Gollancz made this nice little CGI video in honor of The Heroes. Are you all drooling yet?

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Mad Hatter's Reading Log Vol 1.

Mad Hatter's Reading Log Vol 1.

My recent read posts are now going to be called Mad Hatter's Reading Log mostly so I can keep better track of them.  November was my month to read whatever the hell I wanted without any thought to reviewing anything around release. And what a month of lovelies I've had. It has been quite freeing after all the hullabaloo of Steampunk Month, which don't get me wrong I had a lot of fun with as well.  But this month I pulled out lots of books by some of my favorite authors of the last 5 years, which turned into a British invasion of sorts.

City of Ruin  by Mark Charan Newton - This was a doozy of a book.  Charan impressed me quite a bit with Nights of Villjamur, but he explodes this world from the ground up in some very unexpected ways.  Many of the events of Nights of Villjamur don't move forward much, but the new actions, characters, and massive world-building make-up for any disappointment at leaving Villjamur for the rough and tumble Villiren. Highly recommended. Can't wait for the next book The Book of Transformations.

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie - Review to be held until closer to publication. But I'll say I enjoyed it quite a bit.and if Best Served Cold left you a bit cold than The Heroes will probably warm you up.

The Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding - This is the sequel to one of my favorites last year Retribution Falls. I'd put it on par with the first book, but there is a formula to the books that will now seem familiar. Regardless if you like a rip-roaring adventure with a colorful cast you'll not be let down in the least. Some deeper mysteries of the crew are to be had as they all try to release the baggage they've been carrying. Highly recommend.

Side Jobs by Jim Butcher - I had read more than half of these stories in various anthologies.  If you are a hardcore Dresden Files fan this is a must.  If you aren't too huge a fan you\re only missing little bits and pieces for the most part, but the inclusion of Backup and Aftermath will probably push you over the edge to get your Dresden fix.  The stories are uneven, but as they progress they do get better.

Peep Show by Joshua Braff - This was a moving story of a boy caught between two worlds. And I don't mean Fantasy worlds.  It is the 1970s and a teenager has to decide if he wants to live the life of his mother a recently devout Orthodox Jew or his burlesque theater owning father. You'd think it would be an easy choice, but leaving behind family never is.  Recommended. This is Braff''s second book after The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green. And if you're curious Joshua is the brother to the actor Zach Braff.

Thicker Than Water by Mike Carey - The fourth volume in the Felix Castor series.  After getting a taste of Dresden I was in need of a healthy portion of Urban Fantasy. This volume builds off well to the big storyline that has been brewing and left me wanting more as Carey always does. The Castor series is a criminally under read series in the states.  This is possibly because the 4th and 5th volumes weren't available here, but a deal was struck a few months ago and the latest UK editions can now be found on Amazon US and many of the larger book chains. Highly recommend.

First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde - The fifth book in the much loved Thursday Next series. First Among Sequels lives up to the series and it appears Fforde is an author who can do no wrong as he twists words like no other. There was some repetitiveness here and there with explanations, but it didn't dampen the fun at all. I highly recommend the entire series, but start with The Eyre Affair. You'll be hooked from than on as Fforde packs his stories with so many different storylines and a whole lot of satire.

Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski - Superman is THE iconic character of Comicdom.  He has been retooled dozens and dozens of times, erased, and killed as well.  Sufficed to say nearly everything that could be done to his has been. Now Straczynski tries to start from scratch while still paying homage to what has gone before by slightly altering the origin story.  I won't go into how, but Superman: Earth One is one of the top comics I've read this year. Superman: Earth One ranks up there with All Star Superman and is a worthy addition to the DC Multiverse. I can only hope the quality stays as high for the next volume and other Earth One stories that are sure to come.


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New York Comic Con: A Photo Essay (w/ Harry Dresden, Space Marines, and Yes the Elusive Yeti!)

The fifth annual New York Comic Con was this past weekend. I only attended on Friday despite it going on all day Saturday and Sunday for which my feet are eternally grateful, especially since Saturday was sold out to a capacity crowd of 80,000 people. I arrived during the relatively sedate Professional Hours, which gave me 3 hours of wandering time before the general public could enter. I had no luck getting a copy of The Heroes or Side Jobs, but I did see a real copy of the latter. I managed to meet Joe Abercrombie at his signing.  He was quite a nice fellow and I was surprised to learn he knew of Mad Hatter's Bookshelf. We took a picture together in which he was caught caressing my hat.  I hope it was as good from him as it was for me. Soon after entering I spotted this harry fellow.

Much later in the day I spotted the Yeti's North American cousin Bigfoot who was quite nice and not at all animal like.

But, man. I don't understand how someone could walk around all day in these outfits despite it being a relatively cool day. Next up are a couple photos taken right before the Fantasy author panel.

Priscellie from Jim-Butcher.com

The lovely Priscilla was dressed as Queen Mab from The Dresden Files. The next day she dressed as Molly, but I haven't found a picture. But look over her shoulder and you'll get an impossibility.

Yes, that is Harry Dresden with a cell phone of all things. Wizards can't use cell phones! How sparks weren't popping off him and that phone I'll never know, but he looked spot on with a hand that clearly is still healing and a rune inscribed staff.

Warhammer was promoting its online version with my favorite outfits of the show. This Space Marine was life size and clocking it at probably six and a half feet tall and his eyes friggin' glowed and a massively cool sword.

This is an Ork from Warhammer as well who was nearly as impressive as the Space Marine.

The next few pictures are from The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya who does the most amazing things with Legos.  This was basically a mini exposition of his best work.

Han in Carbonite

This was as large as a  4 person breakfast table.

This is Sawaya's most famous piece "Yellow."

Next up are a couple photos I snapped at the Fantasy Author Panel, which should have been called: Giants of Fantasy what with the star studded panel. We had Joe Abercombie's (First Law) first American appearance as an author as well as Jim Butcher (Dresden Files), Naomi Novik (Temeraire), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), Peter V. Brett (The Painted Man), and newcomer Deborah Harkness (A Discovery of Witches). The panel was housed in a room far too small to the point that fans were turned away.  I barely got in and I was there 45 minutes early. A lot of love was thrown around for George R.R. Martin and Tolkien and much of the discussion skewed to writing habits and influences.

Below is video for the event, but for those preferring to read the discussion visit this run down by Tor.com, but keep in mind the videos are much more complete.

NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors from Suvudu on Vimeo.


NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors Part II from Suvudu on Vimeo.

Video games are very important to the show as well and I was able to play Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (PS3), Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii), Redemption (X-Box), and Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii). Kirby's Epic Yarn will be a must for me when it is released and M v C 3 brought me back to the arcade version. I got in a couple games of Magic: The Gathering both against players and their online version, which was a bit clunky. I also managed to meet many of my favorite current comic creators including Bryan J.L. Glass writer for The Mice Templar, Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener creators of Atomic Robo, and David Petersen creator of Mouse Guard.  Signed copies of all their graphic novels were had by me.  I also went to a Marvel panel where I learned one of the Fantastic Four will be dying in their recently launched storyline.  It was weird seeing the FF logo with a 3 in it.  The issue with one of the character's dying will be sold in the famous death bag most famous from when Superman died. 

Plenty more went on while I was there, but you can only get a small taste. I'll definitely try to go back next year.

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(almost) Final Cover for Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes now with Blood!

Next year is ramping up to be one of the biggest for Fantasy reads and The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie is certainly amongst them. The semi-finished cover for The Heroes has appeared on many blogs already, but I haven't seen the the final cover elsewhere with added blood.  So behold the bloody goodness.  The blood certainly adds another layer to the already perfect art given the usual look Abercrombie is given in the UK from Gollancz.  The Heroes will be release January 20th in the UK and February 7th in the US.  Gollancz has a good size extract for The Heroes on their blog if you just can't wait.

“They say Black Dow’s killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they’ve brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.

Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he’s far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it’s his own.

Prince Calder isn’t interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he’ll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn’t have to fight for it himself.

Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?

Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail…

Three men. One battle. No Heroes.”

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Cover Unveiled for The Blade Itself (Limited Edition)

Cover art by Alex Preuss

Subterranean Press is a bit behind in the production of the limited edition version of The Blade Itself. The delay had to do with finding the right artist and also one who could fit it in their schedule. Alex Preuss, best known for his Sci-Fi art, is the final artist who does some gorgeous work. I like the illustration and understand the reason for keeping the same font from the original edition, but it does seem a bit incongruous to the art.

This is a project close to my heart since I'm among those who have pre-ordered The Blade Itself from Sub Press as a hardcover US edition never happened. Sub Press has also released one of the interior colorplates, which I had a lot of trouble placing in the world of the First Law since it looked more Sci-Fi than Fantasy. Theories say it is the shipyards of Gurkhul, the house of the Maker, or Dagoska.

UPDATE: Abercrombie has confirmed it is the shipyards of Gurkhul.

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